4 Non-Religious Reasons To Be Celibate
Abstaining from a sex life and choosing celibacy for reasons other than religion.
Recently Bristol and mom Sarah Palin made a headline-grabbing appearance on Oprah, during which new mom Bristol made an on-air vow to abstain from sex and remain celibate until marriage. Whether you see this as a sincere vow of a teen mom humbled by the grown-up situation she's found herself in, or as a publicity stunt aimed at boosting her and her ambitious mother's conservative image, celibacy continues to gain attention in both the teen and adult worlds as a lifestyle choice.
While we often think of celibacy as a religious choice, there are plenty of people who undertake it for secular reasons. For example:
1. Health. While we're told that regular sex is good for health, STDs are not! Not all of us are able to find a loving, monogamous, disease-free relationship and in lieu of that abstinence (as our high school Sex Ed teachers told us, ad nauseam) is the only 100 percent effective method of birth control and disease prevention. Of course having a disease yourself and wanting to protect a partner is another good reason to abstain. STDs and Sex
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's report "Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2007" STDs overall are on the rise in the US, women are the primary sufferers of STDs with worse consequences (infertility, cancer) and there are 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occurring annually! That equals almost one out of every ten adult Americans.
2. Intimacy. Sex is bound to intimacy. The lack of desirable partners or just having been burned really badly is reason enough to turn some of us off from sharing our bodies and emotions with others. Addiction or other unhealthy attachments to sex would fall into this category, too. 4 Things You May Not Know About Sex Addiction
3. Time. Men and women are working more and harder than ever. In some fields, getting ahead requires 110 percent of our time and focus. This makes it very hard to maintain a relationship, leading many to embrace long-distance relationships, often a means of forced abstinence, casual hook-ups, or opting out of the dating scene altogether. How To Survive A Long Distance Relationship
4. Power. Choosing celibacy can be an empowering move. As with anything in life when we make a conscious choice to do or not do something, it gives a sense of control and purpose in our lives. Eliminating sex from your list of concerns opens up a tremendous amount of brain and emotional space that the strategizing, analyzing and agonizing over our sex lives often fills. The freeing up of some of the above-mentioned time allows us to focus on some of the many empowering, advancing and self-esteem-building activities that can make our lives more meaningful and productive. The Perks Of Sexual Dry Spells
I would say I relate most to #4. I've been almost constantly in relationships, or having friends with benefits, or whatever else, for years upon years now. And it just occurred to me that I never really focus on myself and my needs and what I want out of life, separate from a partner.
And right now, it just seems like a waste of time and mental energy. I don't have the desire to commit to a relationship right now, and I lost interest in casual sex. The fact of the matter is that casual sex usually isn't very good, and with the risk of STD's and pregnancy... what's the point?
So I became celibate a couple months ago, and plan to continue for at least a year. I haven't really taken a "vow" though. It all sort of happened by accident. One day, I just realized that I hadn't been interest in sex with someone for a while, and that I still wasn't interested! And if my celibacy comes to an end before a year's up, it won't be a big deal to me either.
I just won't bother if it isn't someone pretty special, and those are hard to come by!
I am 49 and committed to being celibate for the rest of my life. For me it is a liberating and exciting concept!
Recently Bristol and mom Sarah Palin made a headline-grabbing appearance on Oprah , during which new mom Bristol made an on-air vow to abstain from sex and remain celibate until marriage. Adult Dating
I'm not quite sure what to think about this article. Celibacy is good to prevent STD's and pregnancy, if you're immature, a teenager, or have some form of deficit that hinders one's ability to make rational choices!
Those mature enough to handle intimate relationships, can make mature choices. I once volunteered in a Planned parenthood clinic, and I saw many individuals in relationships, marriages, etc that were given the horrific news that they contracted an STD from their partners. So their is some risk at all times, that's the nature of life. A caring person will go the extra step to get tested, use birth control, and safety.
I've heard that the drive to reproduce is only second to the drive to survive, so celibacy is not a natural choice for most, some can, most can't.
I can relate to celibacy. I haven't had sex in almost 8 years, since I became a widow and I feel if I ever get into a relationship with someone else, he will feel special towards me for this. Nobody else has had me and the one who does get to be my life's partner, will be someone very special indeed.
To me guys who get into a friendship with the fairest of the land, usually want only sex anyway, not a relationship. Too much work on their part and all they wanted was to get sex anyway, they got what they wanted, now they move on to the next conquest. Women too, all they want is one thing and get it then move on. Some people are just hunters, they get what they want then move on.
